East West Rail: Bedford to Cambridge — [Sir Mark Hendrick in the Chair]

Mr. Browne discussed the mixed opinions in his constituency regarding East West Rail, highlighting benefits for Cambourne residents but concerns for villages along the route. He questioned the need and economic impact of the project, emphasizing issues with water supply and housing growth projections. Mr. Browne also addressed property blight and compensation issues, raising specific design questions about the railway's visual impact on local areas.

Daniel Zeichner acknowledged the long-standing debates around East West Rail and expressed a desire to move beyond discussions towards action. He highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of the project, including improved connectivity between Cambridge, Milton Keynes, and Oxford. Zeichner emphasized the need for electrification and questioned the extent of resources allocated to the project without clear outcomes. The Member questioned the expenditure on an alternative road scheme and asked who was still working on it. He also inquired about the business case development process and the methodology used to assess regeneration and decarbonisation benefits.

The Member intervened to correct a statistic regarding electrified miles under Labour's tenure, emphasizing their track record of rolling stock investments. He challenged the government's claim by citing examples from his constituency where infrastructure growth was driven by other factors.

Mr Yasin expressed concerns about the impact of the proposed six-track East West Rail route on Bedford residents, stating that it will lead to the demolition of at least 66 properties, including 37 residential homes. He urged the government to treat affected residents with respect and compassion and provide fair compensation. Mr Yasin also criticised the lack of a formal business case for the project and called for electrification or carbon-free power for East West Rail. Asked the Minister if he would commit to putting the proposals on hold if a majority of participants in the statutory consultation oppose the plans, aiming to prove constituents' doubts wrong.

Emphasised the importance of connecting Cambridge and Oxford via rail, highlighting economic benefits such as job creation and improved local economies. Noted that travel time between Bedford and Cambridge would be reduced from 90 minutes to 35 minutes with the new connection. Criticized the slow progress on the project and called for full electrification of the route. Raised concerns about the demolition of homes in affected constituencies and the need for clear consultation and support for residents. Rebutted the Minister's comments on rail electrification, highlighting that only 2.2 km of rail line has been electrified in the past year and criticising the Conservative Government for failing to prioritise rail electrification.

On the question of growth, East West Rail should be a real opportunity for growth, but real problems will arise if the surrounding infrastructure is not there. She also argued that it is unfair to call people who raise concerns about the lack of necessary services nimbys and stressed the importance of additional infrastructure such as bus services and GP services. We are in a climate emergency. If people want to really see the benefits of a new infrastructure, they need to see the benefits to both the environment and their health. The Government are not making electrification the main priority.